Folding box.



Patentdv Oct. 24, |899. L. F. FEBRELL.

FOLDING BOX.

(Application led July 20, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Eric.

LENA F. FERRELL, OF LA MONTE, MISSOURI.

FOLDING BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,377, dated October 24, 1899. Application filed July 20, 1899. Serial No. 724,556. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ 1071/0111/ t may concern:

Be it known thatl, LENA F. FERRELL, acitizen of the United States, residing at La Monte, in the county of Pettis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Folding Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding boxes in general, and more particularly to that class formed of cardboard, pasteboard, or similar material; and it has for its object to provide a box which may be formed from a single sheet of material and in which the elements y thereof when in their operative positions will be held securely in place.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the box may be readily set up and taken down and in which, moreover,when taken down or unfolded it will be in such a form as to enable'it being packed with others to occupy a minimum space.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specificationl and in which like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a'plan view of a blank from which the box is formed.l Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the box set up and with the cover thereof in a distended position. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a box employing the slidable cover in substitution of the integral cover.

Referring now to the drawings, 5 represents the bottom portion of the box-forming blank, having side folds and 7 extending from opposite side edges thereof, the side fold 7 having a further extension 8 to form the top of the box, and which top is also provided with an extension 9, having a tongue 10, which is adapted to enter and lie within a slot 11 in the opposite side folds, when the box is set up. The side folds have hinge connections with the bottom and with their extensions, as also the extension 9 with the extension 8.

Hingedly connected with the end edges of the bottom 5 are end folds 12 and 13, having extensions 14 and 15, respectively, hinged thereto, and which extensions have each a transverse slot 16 and 17, respectively, for a purpose to be presently explained.

Hinged at each side edge of the end folds 12 and 13 are locking-folds 18 and 19, respectively, the length of each of which is substantially the same as the length of a side fold-i. c. the length of the box-the opposite locking-folds 18 and 19 being slotted half-way through transversely, as shown at 2O and 21, respectively, the slot of one locking-fold being adapted to receive the unslotted portion of the opposite locking-fold, thus to prevent longitudinal displacement of the folds and lock. To prevent outward displacement of one locking-fold with respect to its engaging locking-fold, tongues 22 and 23 are formed upon the folds 18 and 19, respectively, and are adapted to enter the respective slots of the engaging locking-fold, which slots 24 are correspondingly located and formed.

In setting up the box the end folds 12 and 13 are bent upwardly and at rightY angles to the bottom 5, during which .operation their respective locking-folds are bent to lie at right angles thereto,with the slotted portions of the locking-folds in mutual engagement. By further moving the end folds to assume their iinal positions at right angles to the bottom the locking-folds slide into the slots of their engaging folds and assume the positions shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, after which the tongues 22 are engaged with the slots or openings 24: in the opposing locking-folds to prevent upward movement of the lockingfolds from the bottom 5, and which movement would tend to dislocate the lockingfolds. Vthen the parts have been thus far adj usted, there is formed an open-topped box. In order to give a smooth exterior to the side of the box, the side folds 6 and 7 are then bent upwardly to lie against their adjacent locking-folds, the side fold 6 having an extension 25 having slots 26 leading inwardly from its outer edge and which are adapted to coperate with the slots 16 and 17 in the extensions 15 of the end folds to further lock the end folds against outward movem ent,the slots 16, 17, and 26 receiving the unslotted portions of their opposing extensions. The remaining side fold 7 is bent upwardly to lie against the adjacent locking-folds, the top extension 8 is bent to lie across the open upper end of the box, and the extension 9 thereof is bent downwardly to lie against the side 6 while the tongue 10 is engaged with the slot 11, when the box is completely folded.

When it is desired to fill the box, the cover may be disengaged from the side fold 6 and IOO raised part way or to the position shown in Fig. 2, after which it may be adjusted to close the box, as above described.

In this connection it will of course be understood that the hinge connections between the several parts of the box are formed by creasing the materia-l of which the box is made.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings there is shown a box the body of which is in all respects the same as that just described, with the exception that the cover fold or extension S is omitted, and in substitution thereof an extension 2S is formed similar to the extension 25 and slotted in the same manner, and which slots are adapted to cooperate with longitudinal slots in the extensions 30 and 3l of the end folds, corresponding to the extensions l5, above described, the intermediate portions of the extension 28 and the opposite extension lying in a plane below the extensions 30 and 3l, thus to form slideways for a slidable cover 32, having projections 33, which act as stops to limit the movement of the cover.

It will be readily understood that in practice the specific construction and arrangement shown may be varied and that any desired material may be employed that is suitable without departing from t-he spirit of the invention.

In order to fasten the box against accidental opening, the end folds l2 and I3 have perforations 34 therein, through which are passed the ends of cords or ribbons 35, which are of a length sufficient to enable them to be tied across the top of the box, the inner ends thereof being held in place in any desired manner.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isl. A folding box comprisingr a bottom having side and end folds connected therewith, locking-folds connected with the end folds, slots in the locking-folds adapted to interlock with the slots of their corresponding folds, an opening in each locking-fold, a tongue carried by each locking-fold and adapted to engage the opening of its interlocking fold, interlocking extensions carried by the end folds and a side fold, and a cover carried by the remaining side fold.

2. A folding box comprising a bottom having side and end folds connected therewith, locking-folds connected with the end folds and adapted for engagement, locking extensions carried by the end folds and a side fold at their upper edges and adapted for engagement to project inwardly and over the inclosure of the box, and a cover-fold carried by the remaining side fold.

3. A folding box comprising a bottom having side and end folds connected therewith,

locking-folds connected with the end folds and adapted for engagement, locking extensions carried by the end folds and a side fold at their upper edges and adapted for engagement to project inwardly and over the inclosure of the box, and a cover.

4. A folding box, comprising a bottom having side and end folds connected therewith, locking-folds connected with the end folds, slots formed in the locking-folds and adapted to interlock with their opposite locking-folds, said locking-folds being adapted to lie against the side folds, openings in the locking-fold and tongues carried by the locking-folds and adapted to enter the openings of their interlocking folds, and a cover-fold connected with a side fold.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LENA F. FERRELL.

Witnesses:

BERTHA FERRELL, ADDA B. OAvERT, 

